Remembering Paul Verret

Paul Verret dedicated nearly his entire life to Saint Paul. Through his career, his influence, and his personal generosity, Paul had an immeasurable impact on Wilder’s many community partners and our program and service participants. Sadly, Paul passed away in June 2020.

Paul began his career in philanthropy in 1972, leading the Minnesota Foundation—which started at Wilder—and then the Saint Paul Foundation for three decades. He continued in retirement as an advisor to the Katherine B. Andersen Fund of the Saint Paul Foundation, and facilitated the granting of nearly $3 million in support of Wilder’s mission.

Paul was especially passionate about Wilder’s work with children and youth. He loved to hear stories of young students working with school-based mental health therapists, youth receiving support after experiencing homelessness, and young leaders working with Wilder staff to use their voices and energy to change their community. Much of Paul and his wife’s personal generosity supported this work as well.

“It is hard to single out a program,” says Paul’s wife, Carolyn. “He loved and valued the various works of Wilder and focused on the greatest need as needs changed over time.”